Prior to Procedure

Ask your doctor if you need to avoid eating or drinking before the procedure.

Anesthesia

You will most likely be given a sedative to help you relax. Local anesthesia will be used to numb the area. If this is done as part of another surgery, you may have
general
or
spinal anesthesia
.

Description of the Procedure

The exact steps of the procedure will depend on where the tissue is located. The tool will be a probe that is applied directly to the area or passed through a catheter to the area.
Imaging devices such as a CT scan
,
ultrasound
, or
MRI scan
will be used to help guide the doctor to the area.

A small amount of electricity is passed through the tube which heats and destroys the selected tissue. The probe may be repositioned to destroy other areas of tissue.

Immediately After Procedure

You will be monitored for 2-3 hours after the procedure.

How Long Will It Take?

About 10-60 minutes

How Much Will It Hurt?

Anesthesia will prevent pain during surgery. Pain and discomfort after the procedure will depend on the location and amount of tissue that was involved. Discomfort during recovery can be managed with medications.

Average Hospital Stay

It may be possible to leave the hospital on the same day of the procedure. Some will need to stay overnight so that the doctor can monitor them.

Post-procedure Care

Most return to normal activities within a few days of the procedure.

Call Your Doctor

It is important to monitor your recovery. Alert your doctor to any problems. If any of the following occur, call your doctor:

Signs of infection, including fever and chills

Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or any discharge from the incision site

Pain that you cannot control with the medications you've been given

Cough, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, or chest pain

Nausea and vomiting

If you think you have an emergency, call for medical help right away.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Interventional radiology.
The Radiological Society of North America Radiology Info website. Available at
http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/sitemap/category.cfm?category=ir&bhcp=1. Accessed December 30, 2014.

Radiofrequency ablation background. National Institutes of Health website. Available at
http://www.cc.nih.gov/drd/rfa/background.html. Accessed December 30, 2014.